Pile fabric



NOV. 8, 1932. SLATER FILE FABRIC Filed Jan. 12, 1929 WHUUHUW WNW noenboc /Ve/.s0/7 S/a/er Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PAT NT-OF I E NELSON SLATER, OF WEBSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR TO S. SLATER & SONS, INC., OF WEBSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS FILE FABRIC Application filed January 12, 1929. Serial No. 332,090."

Another object is to provide a pile fabric,

and a process for making same, in which certain'steps usually necessary have been'eliminated.

A further object is to provide a pile fabric with a more ornamental and durable pile surface than has heretofore been possible. Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

It has long been known to coat a fabricwith a layer of an adhesive, apply a layer of some fibrous material and then raise a nap by means of a wire brush, or otherwise. This,

however, has certain disadvantages, such as the difiiculty of raising the nap to exactly the desired degree without detaching a large part of the fibers; the tendency of the fibers to lie flat, since they are applied flat and the consequent difiiculty of maintaininga satisfac tory nap; the fact that the layer of adhesive is obvious to the eye. and masks to a certain extent the weave of the base fabric, thus making the finished product appear somewhat less like a fabric. All these disadvantages I have overcome. and are avoided in the fabric, the making of which I shall presently describe.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with he accompanying drawing. in which like re "erence characters represent like elements. and in which Fig. 1 is a broken plan view, showing my completed fabric and the different component layers thereof, and

Fig.2 is a-section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Inthe drawing I have indicated at 12 a base fabric. This can be of any desired material, such as duck. etc.: the material used in any given case being chosen with av view to its cheapness and durability.

At 10. I have indicated fibers, which are forced through the base fabric, with a short end 16 projecting (,lownwardly, and a longer portion, which is to form the pile 0r nap, projecting upwardly from said base fabric.

I may use fibers of any sort that I find desirable. lVool, hair, cotton, silk, rayon, etc., are all obviously suitable, used either alone or in combination.

In order to anchor the fibers, and prevent their becoming detached from the base fabric,vI apply to the lower short ends, which are indicated at 16, a-coating of a cementing material 14. Pyroxylin is a suitable material to use for this cement; although I obviously do not limit myself thereto. Latex, varnish,

or any similar cementing substance may be used equally well.

Tl'ie advantages of my fabric are obvious. It is unnecessary to raise apile, as must be done if the pile and the cement are on one side of the base fabric; mere brushing up will produce a pile effect that is quite desirable and beautiful. There is much less tendency for the pile to flatten out, since its attachment is vertical to the base fabric, instead of parallel thereto. Compared with fabrics in which the fibers are merely needled through the/base fabric, the provision of a cement of course greatly increases the durability.

\Vhile I have spoken of a base fabric, it is clear that I could use other materials. Leather. rubber or composition bases of any type might be used, or even paper, if such should be found desirable.

Other changes might be made, such as are within the province of one skilled in the art.

For example, the fibers might be inserted at an acute angle to the base member, instead of perpendicularly thereto, thus giving av novel effect. Such changes are to be consideredas comprised and included in my invention, which is to be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

In an attempt to produce a pile fabric of the general description and the structure which I have described. it has sometimes been the practice to lay a part of the material upon the base and force some of the bat materialinto the base and in fact. through it. so that the fabric proiecting through it can he treated as pile. and the bat on the opposite side ('Hi'e(l to the base by pyroxylin or other waterproof cement. The method of producing such a pile is objectionable, firsthecause it is not economical because of the fiber which would make good pile, being allowed to lie in a useless bat upon the base, and further because it has been found impractical to make as full and nice a layer of protruding pile as is desired. Bymy method,

however. it will be seen that there is no bat and thatthe pile fibers are substantially all of them forced entirely through the base and that the shorter .ends of the fibers on one side of the base are anchored in asuitable waterproof cement. In this way all the material which would otherwise lie in a bat is used and a thick, nice, pile is produced on the other side.

I claim:

1. An improved pile fabric comprising a base having a mass of pile l'ibers substantially all of which project entirelythrough it and with the protruding fibers on one side only anchored to the base by a waterproof cement.

2. An improved pile fabric comprisin a base. and a mass of fibers substantially all ol which project through said base so as to protrude on both sides thereof. said fibers being anchored to said base by a cement applied to one face thereof.

I). An improved pile. fabric comprising a base. and a. mass of fibers substantially all of which project through said base so as to protrude on both sides thereof, said fibers projecting further on one side than on the other and the shorter protruding ends being anchored to said base by means of a coating of cement.

In te. =tin1on whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 11th day of .Ta nua ry 1929.

NELSON SLATER. 

